JAMIE VARDY MAGIC: FIRST SERIE A BRACE HALTS BOLOGNA'S RISE
A stunning double from Jamie Vardy secured a surprise Cremonese victory over in-form Bologna, stopping them from moving into second place in Serie A.
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Jamie Vardy's first Serie A double led Cremonese to a surprising away win against a Bologna side that had been in great form. This result stopped Bologna from moving into second place.
Vincenzo Italiano’s team had gone 12 games without a loss, with recent wins against Napoli, Udinese, and RB Salzburg. Before the match, a win would have put them level in second place with Inter and Roma, just one point behind AC Milan and Napoli.
Bologna missed Lukasz Skorupski, Remo Freuler, Martin Vitik, and Ciro Immobile. Jonathan Rowe and Nicolò Cambiaghi were back on the bench, though. Cremonese, after three straight losses, were without Michele Collocolo, Mikayil Faye, and Faris Moumbagna.
Early on, Riccardo Orsolini's shot hit the post for Bologna, and Benjamin Dominguez was offside on the rebound.
Dominguez then tried his luck with a long-range shot that Emil Audero pushed away. Santiago Castro's volley was saved as well, though he might have been offside.
Jamie Vardy intercepted a poor pass from Nicolò Casale and charged toward goal, but Federico Ravaglia did enough to force him wide.
Audero made a close-range save from Tommaso Pobega after a scramble in the box. Then, Giuseppe Pezzella almost scored an own goal trying to clear Casale’s header.
Ravaglia also made a key save at the other end, blocking Vardy's volley after a cross from Federico Bonazzoli.
Moments later, Vardy scored. He timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap on a through ball from Bonazzoli and slipped the ball through the goalkeeper's legs.
Bologna got a penalty when Castro's flick hit Bianchetti's arm. Orsolini scored, sending Audero the wrong way.
After the break, Cremonese caught Bologna off guard. Tommaso Barbieri volleyed the ball in from the right, and Vardy was quickest to react, knocking it in from close range.
Pobega's shot was blocked, and Ravaglia tipped a header from Payero over the bar.
Cremonese nearly added another when Payero's flick from a corner hit the post.
Bologna kept pushing, but Jens Odgaard couldn't quite reach Pobega's flick-on, and Audero caught Orsolini's deflected volley.
The hosts also hit the post from a corner when Federico Baschirotto's deflection almost went in.
Filippo Terracciano's sliding tackle on Barbieri in the box was risky. Then, at the other end, Terracciano missed an open goal from close range after a corner.
Audero again saved a close-range shot from Castro and then blocked Thijs Dallinga's shot.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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